Study Desk

I am against you.

Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded!For I am doing something in your daysthat you will not believewhen you hear about it.

Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,that bitter, impetuous nationthat marches across the earth’s open spacesto seize territories not its own.

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, delivered the Lord’s message to the people: “I am with you—this is the Lord’s declaration.”

Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel—this is the Lord’s declaration. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land—this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you—the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.

“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.

So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: The Lord of Armies says: I am extremely jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.

I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease, for I was a little angry, but they made the destruction worse.

For look, I am raising my hand against them, and they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the Lord of Armies has sent me.

“Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

“Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring my servant, the Branch.

The Lord of Armies says this: “I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.”

the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let’s go at once to plead for the Lord’s favor and to seek the Lord of Armies. I am also going.

I will strengthen the house of Judahand deliver the house of Joseph.I will restore thembecause I have compassion on them,and they will beas though I had never rejected them.For I am the Lord their God,and I will answer them.

I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are perishing, and he will not seek the lost or heal the broken. He will not sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hooves.

He will say: I am not a prophet; I work the land, for a man purchased me as a servant since my youth.

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me? says the Lord of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.”

“I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

You also say: ‘Look, what a nuisance!’ And you scorn it,” says the Lord of Armies. “You bring stolen, lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord.